Lyrics for the choral work:

September

Choral work for men's voices. Written for the Turtle Creek Chorale, Dallas, TX, Dr. Timothy Seelig, director.
Words selected from the poem
"September 1, 1939" by W.H. Auden, used with permission.

The full poem may be found here.

Into this neutral air
Where blind skyscrapers use
Their full height to proclaim
The strength of Collective Man,
Each language pours its vain
Competitive excuse:
But who can live for long
In an euphoric dream;
Out of the mirror they stare,
Imperialism's face
And the international wrong.

Defenceless under the night
Our world in stupor lies;
Yet, dotted everywhere,
Ironic points of light
Flash out wherever the Just
Exchange their messages:
May I, composed like them
Of Eros and of dust,
Beleaguered by the same
Negation and despair,
Show an affirming flame.

Copyright ©1940 W.H. Auden,
through Curtis Brown, Ltd. All rights reserved.

To acquire a copy of the score, please contact the composer. An MP3 file with the music played by a keyboard may be found at the MP3 page.